Liam Fox has full faith in Dundee United players despite publicly questioning personality and bravery

Liam Fox insists he still retains full faith in his players despite publicly questioning their personality and bravery.

The Dundee United head coach made those comments in the aftermath of the disappointing Scottish Cup exit to Kilmarnock at Tannadice last weekend. It was United’s fourth defeat in a row with the club propping up the Premiership table and fed-up fans becoming increasingly angry with the situation. Fox, however, believes he possesses players who will stand up and be counted to dig the club out of the hole they find themselves in, starting on Saturday in a Tayside derby with St Johnstone at Tannadice.

The 39-year-old said: “I talked about character and personality because when you’re a footballer, especially when you have had a few bad results and people are getting on your backs, you need to show it. It’s about trusting yourself and sticking to the things you work on every day. You don’t just become a bad player overnight. Players are here because they are good players – a few bad passes or a few below-par games doesn’t change that.

“That’s what we have been talking to them about and my job is to continually go over what’s expected and give them structure. I have real belief in the group because we have some really good talent.

“We have seen some flashes of what we can do but we need to keep believing it and stick to it. I take the responsibility because I am the one asking them to do it. All I ask of the players is to go out there and do what’s being asked of them. If they execute it and it doesn’t go right then that’s on me. Part of my job is to take that pressure off them, that’s how I see it.”

Fox has been in the game a long time both as a player and a coach but the United job is only his second in the